Farewell to Chatty arena event will also be capital campaign kickoff

As one chapter in the story of recreational facilities in Chatsworth comes to an end later this month, a new one will just be getting underway.

People will gather at the Chatsworth Community Centre Sept. 30 for an event that will both mark the closure of the 52-year-old arena and officially launch a capital campaign to build a new one.

“We're calling it the Chatty Closer and Capital Campaign Kickoff. So, we're celebrating the arena that we've had and starting a kickoff towards a new facility,” Patty Sinnamon, the township's chief administrative officer/clerk, said in an interview Tuesday.

A schedule for the event, which is to run from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. and include activities for both adults and children, has been released by the township.

Chatsworth council recently voted to create a community recreation task force as a first step in what could lead to the construction of a new community centre.

The group will explore the recreational and social needs of the community and, depending on the results of that review, investigate and prepare options for recreation facilities, “including but not limited to the construction of a new recreation complex.”

The township is now looking for volunteers to sit on the task force. The deadline to apply is Sept. 11.

“We're inviting community members and representatives of community groups to apply to sit on the task force. They will be looking at what our needs are and part of that is looking to build a new facility,” Sinnamon said.

“We're at our very first step here, so we're several years out. A new facility, obviously, can cost several million dollars so we're at the newborn stage at this point.”

Chatsworth council voted unanimously in June to shutter the Chatsworth Community Centre at the end of September.

The decision came after it received a report by GM BluePlan engineers that outlined many deficiencies with the building that must be addressed.

The building also requires a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and would have to be brought up to current accessibility standards.

Mayor Bob Pringle has told The Sun Times that the costs to fix all of the problems are not financially feasible for the township.

As a result of the engineer's report, the Chatsworth Agricultural Society – which has used the community centre for its annual fall fair – announced that it was cancelling this year's event.

In a July 14 news release, society board chair Jenna McKay said the board “felt that using the building for the fair in mid-September involved too many uncertainties and the possibility of unacceptable risks.” The release mentioned “problems with mold and the structure itself” that were identified in an engineer's report.

Chatsworth Township issued a news release Aug. 3 that said there are no health or safety risks with having the community centre closing event at the arena.

“A mold assessment was carried out on the facility in May and, with the exception of the Zamboni room and one dressing room, the air quality is safe. In fact, the air quality at the time was better than the air quality outside, given the time of year for pollen, etc.,” the release said.

“The concerns that the township has with regards to the structural integrity of the facility are strictly related to snow load and are supported by a structural engineer's report.”

The Chatty Closer event is to include afternoon events from 1 to 6 p.m., including a farm stock tractor pull, kid's fun zone with pony rides, bouncy castles and more, local entertainment and a beer garden.

The “feature event,” which is set for 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., is to include performances by a Bob Seger tribute band and The Bayou Boys, a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival. There will also be silent and live auctions.

Tickets for the afternoon events are $10, but students aged 16 and under can get in for free.

Admission to the age-of-majority feature event is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.